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Books and Writing

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My Debut Collection of Short Stories

Home of the Floating Lily, my debut collection, was published in June, 2021, by Dundurn Press. It won runner-up for the 2021 Danuta Gleed Literary Award for best first collection of short stories and was long-listed for the 2022 Toronto Book Awards. Home of the Floating Lily is also part of the curriculum in various English and Creative Writing Programs in a number of Canadian Universities and High Schools across in Canada. 

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Set in both Canada and Bangladesh, the eight stories in this collection follow the lives of everyday people as they navigate the complexities of migration, displacement, love, friendship, and familial conflict. A young woman moves to Toronto after getting married but soon discovers her husband is not who she believes him to be. A mother reconciles her heartbreak when her sons defy her expectations and choose their own paths in life. A lonely international student returns to Bangladesh and forms an unexpected bond with her domestic helper. A working-class woman, caught between her love for Bangladesh and her determination to raise her daughter in Canada, makes a life-altering decision after a dark secret from the past is revealed.
In each of the stories, characters embark on difficult journeys in search of love, dignity, and a sense of belonging.

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Lawrence Hill

"An intimate, empathetic and important portrait of the lives of Bangladeshi immigrants."

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Read my short story about a young bride with a disability who waits for her lover on her wedding day.

Published in The New Quarterly

Read my short story about a woman remembering a childhood visit to her grandmother's house and how that changes the course of her relationship with her mother.

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Published in the Puritan Magazine

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Let’s Connect!

Please note that I am currently on maternity leave and will not be taking on any projects until late 2025. If you would like to work with me, please feel free to contact me using the form below or my email. Thank you! 

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Thanks for submitting!

You can also email me directly:

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For inquires about my consulting services, please email me at:

 

silmyabdullahconsultant@gmail.com 

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For inquires related to my writing projects or to book me for an author event, please email me at:

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silmy@silmyabdullahauthor.com 

© 2022 by Silmy Abdullah

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